After seeking blessings of the Town God at the Xiahai Chenghuang Temple, we drove down to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a monument erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China.
Passing by the Presidential Palace of Taiwan, which is located in the Zhongzheng District...
The palace was built between 1912 and 1919 during the Japanese occupation of the island and is quite a grand building, that quite distinctly stands out...
It's quite a cloudy morning here and there are predictions that a super typhoon, Dujuan is going to hit Taiwan in the next few days...
The Taipei East Gate - built in 1884 by the Qing Dynasty after the Taipeh prefecture government was installed...
A rather drab building block...
Finally at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall...
The monument was officially opened on April 5, 1980, to mark the fifth anniversary of Chain Kai-shek's death. The hall is white with a blue octagonal roof - the number "8" symbolises abundance and good fortune of the number eight in Chinese mythology. The monument has two sets of white stairs leading up to the main entrance, each with 89 steps represent Chiang's age at the time of his death.
Layout of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall...
At 8.45 AM, the monument was teeming with people who were here to witness the door opening ceremony that takes place at 9 AM...
The spacious lawns surrounding the monument are the venue for morning Tai Chi exercises for many...
An ornamental tree...
The main gate (white) in the distance...
The main gate...
Taiwan has traditionally had a political struggle between those who prefer a distinct Taiwanese identity (distinct from mainland China) and those who identify with the historical heritage of the Republic of China (and seek ultimate reunification with the mainland). The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was renamed as the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall in 2007, when the nationalist Kuomintang Party lost the elections. When the nationalists came back in power in 2009, they reverted to the old name. Classic politics was at its best!
Heading up to see the opening ceremony...
The upper level contains the main hall, in which a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek is located, and where a guard mounting ceremony takes place in regular intervals.
Lovely gardens below...
The ROC flag flying high!
Taipei skyline...
And the gates finally open at 9 AM sharp...
There is the statue of President Chiang Kai-shek, with benevolent smile...
The white sun adorns the ceiling...
The ceremony of the guards begins...
Saluting the first president of Taiwan...
The sun...
A recording of the ceremony...
The soldiers did their act in perfect coordination and with absolute finesse...
This ceremony is carried out on an hourly basis as a mark of respect to the founding father...
And everyone around us enjoyed the ceremony...
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